Council chiefs have made an official objection to an application to grant The Rec town green status.
Bath and North East Somerset Council, as collective trustee of The Rec, has submitted an objection to the application by Bathwick resident Jack Sparrow.
Mr Sparrow wants The Rec to be designated a town green to prevent Bath Rugby from expanding by building a new arena on the city centre site.
In its objection the council - wearing its trustee hat - said there was not enough evidence to prove The Rec had been significantly used for sports activities outside those put on by the authority or by sports clubs such as Bath Rugby during the past 20 years.
In its statement the council said of Mr Sparrow's submissions: "The few statements adduced in support of the application are insufficient to prove such use."
The Real Friends of The Rec pressure group has also protested that the land does not meet the criteria for a town green because there has not been free and open access to all of it for the last 20 years.
Mr Sparrow made his town green application in January under the 2006 Commons Act, as the club awaits the final verdict of the Charity Commission on its vision.
B&NES is also the body making the final decision on the status and has instructed an independent barrister to assess the arguments for and against and advise it, in its capacity as registration authority.
A spokesman said: "The barrister will act as an independent inspector and they are likely to either hold a public inquiry or deal with the matter through an exchange of written representations."
A decision is not expected until later in the year.
